Football: Standout talents could help St. Viator rebuild a winner
After St. Viator's football team went a disappointing 1-8 last year, coach Dave Archibald was brought in with the hopes of turning things around for the Lions in 2016.
Fortunately for St. Viator and Archibald, the Lions have two of the area's top building blocks as a foundation.
Notre Dame recruit and tight end Cole Kmet leads the offense, while Air Force recruit and middle linebacker Austin Ruetsche will spark the defense as the Lions look to return to the playoffs this year.
"They are both great players to build behind," said Archibald, who came from Wisconsin Lutheran College, where he was the offensive coordinator, to take over for St. Viator in his first year as head coach. "This summer was beneficial and great to help us to get things established. We are looking to get the program going in the right direction and getting our schemes in place."
Kmet, who stands 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, has established himself as one of the top seniors in the state. And from the first time he saw Kmet on film, Archibald knew he had a winner.
"Cole just keeps getting better," Archibald said. "I watched his film from last year and I am excited to coach him. He is a standout player in every aspect. And his ceiling is even higher. He is happy to block with same effort that he does in the passing game."
Marc Clark, Sam Calmeyn, Christian Dolecki, Matt Doersching and Michael Dziedzic will join Kmet as receivers.
The Lions will begin the season with Tommy Majerus at quarterback. Majerus, who is a senior, was the starter last season. He has been getting competition from junior Bryce Hellgeth, who has also looked good this summer.
"It has been a good battle," Archibald said. "Majerus will start the season opener, but they both played pretty evenly throughout the summer."
The Lions have a third quarterback on their roster in Carmel transfer Kennedy Gawin, who will also play running back. He will share the duties with speedster Darreonta Jackson. Junior Jack Scislowski would have been in the mix, but he tore his ACL during camp.
The offensive line returns three starters in Tony Valentino (6-1, 26), Brent DeSelm (6-3, 230) and junior Anthony Maraviglia (6-2, 265). Joe Cleary (6-2, 215) and Joe Stenkekne, along with Rocky Smarglio and Anthony Citrano, are also in the mix.
The linebacking corps will be the Lions' strength on defense with Reutsche patrolling the middle. He will be joined by Wilson Starr, Patrick Churak and Taylor Tumberger. The defensive line will be Citrano, Maravigilai, Valentino and Kmet. Bobby Ochoa, Dolecki and Matt Dzubic along with Jackson and Clark will man the secondary.